By Brad Durick

You can tell it is Mid-September on the Red River. The mornings have been cool, with warmer weather during the middays. Right now, the catfish are a bit sluggish and hanging just off the drops to the holes on the off-current sides and tight in log jams and snags that are not in the main current. Like last week they require an honest 20-to-30-minute sit with some of the better fish coming after an even longer period on a spot.

The forecast beginning Wednesday says that water temperatures are going to start coming down fast over the next few days. This could make the fish sit even tighter to the structure and take even a bit longer to decide to hit the bait. This is sometimes a great opportunity to fish very shallow and out of the current. Once the water temperatures level back out in the high 50s or low 60s everything should come back for the final push of the catfish season.

All baits remain effective. Frogs are still producing well as are suckers if you can get them. Some fish are also coming on goldeye. It seems preference has changed almost daily so keep a couple options available.

Brad Durick is a Dakota Edge Outdoors contributing writer and licensed ND fishing guide specializing in channel catfish on the Red River in and around Grand Forks.

Featured Photo: With the shift to fall, catfish require a longer wait as water temperatures cool.  Up to a half-hour wait is required to get bigger fish to come to the bait and bite. DEO Photo by Brad Durick.